president obama and congressional leaders will meet this afternoon at the white house in a last-ditch effort to avoid a self-inflicted fiscal calamity. this is the first meeting between the power plays in six weeks. if they can't work out some kind of agreement automatic tax hikes and spending cuts will go into affected new year's day, which will impact most americans and will put the nation back into recession. >> we are coming up against a hard deadline. >> at today's meeting, president obama will push for a stop gap measure, a small deal that will at least prevent tax increases for those earning $250,000 or less. but even that seems unlikely. >> the american people have a right to be very upset with this congress. >> publicly, both sides have ratcheted up rhetoric, pointing the finger. >> john boehner seems to care more about keeping his speakership than keeping the nation on firm financial footing. >> the only reason why democrats have been trying to defect -- deflect attention over the past few weeks is they did not have a plan of their own. >> the path for the rest in the hands